Wild Illumination

2006 draught sample at EBF ’06. Watery, very low carbonation levels in this fairly cloudy golden-apricot-tangerine colored beer. No head. The nose begins with a dried apricot and chardonnay wine-like feel to it. Thoroughly drying wheatiness, plenty of soft honey grains and an emerging marmalade like tartness. Some mossy, musty yeastiness and some poignant sourish notes of cider, green apples and barnyard. The flavor begins with a brief glimpse of honey and challenging, Belgian character yeast, but quickly goes South with a heavily sour, spoiled fruit flavor and tons of lactic dryness. Palate deadening minerals on the end incite pictures of licking a cold, hard-water, steel, water fountain. Incredibly watery, with much too low carbonation levels. Hops are soggy and the brief bitterness seems at odds with this texture.
It begins to become apparent that there is something that is not allowing Shaun’s beers to age properly. An infection at brewing, or as many seem to think, problems with the water. I hope he can get it resolved, because boy can he brew!